ATG FLYWEIGHT TOURNIE: Round 1, Fight 2, WILDE takes close unanimous decision over BETULIO GONZALEZ

Can you also give us the ring size?

18x18
20x20
22x22
25x25

It could matter.

 

Hmm, I want to favour Wilde, and do, but I can't put my finger on why.

Obviously, aside from his power, but it's probable Betulio goes the distance.

 

Wilde was truly a phenom, and what stands out to me after reading and watching him for a long time is his, frankly, extraordinary judgment of range and distance, alongside his amazing reactions and general fluidity and natural instincts in the ring. His power doesn't need to be mentioned, though Betulio of course was an iron man alongside his brilliant punch slipping, and a very clever boxer in his own right, as he demonstrated against both Canto and Ohba, amongst many others. However, it did seem cleverer or longer boxers could give him the slip on the angle or counter, which is also what these two did, not without big trouble though. Also, though Wilde would be smaller here, it's not like he was frail, with him taking a prolonged beating from Tancy Lee whilst suffering from flu as an example of his hide and conviction (and which he promptly got revenge on with an 11th round stoppage).

Where it get trickier to judge is due to Wilde's style of Boxing, and how you think it is effective (or not) in this particular rule-set. Here we have 1950s rules, which in my estimation is favourable to Wilde due to the neutral (slightly bigger) glove size and mainly the unattached thumbed gloves, which allows his brilliant parrying technique and strategy to still carry over to this bout. Other than this, though, the rule-set is generally neutral, and the only adaption needed would be from Wilde, to increase his pace in a (comparative for his era) shorter 15 rounder. Betulio would have no struggles, and Wilde adapts very quickly.

Betulio's footwork also needs a mention - he was very springy on his feet and could possibly keep up with Wilde on the back-foot, which would give him major trouble. Combined with his head movement and general punch selection, Wilde would be missing lots of shots and would likely need a higher work-rate.

I see Wilde having strong, consistent trouble throughout with the skills and toughness of Betulio, but I think his abilities, parries and lead would allow him to take rounds and formulate a strategy to move around him and eventually sting him repeatedly and eventually discourage him with his power. Close throughout, Wilde would lose early rounds and get stung himself by the Venezuelan iron man, before working back in, in a fight some think Betulio won due to his work rate and competitive activity..

VERDICT: WILDE SPLIT DECISION

 

Betulio is the better technician, and has the power to keep Wilde honest. Only problem was, he had a penchant for being overly economical and waiting for the perfect opportunity to as, Matt said, "smuggle shots across the border". Made him a hell of a threat at all times, but meant sometimes that he could be outworked. Wilde, for his flaws, kept up a inhuman pace over extended distances, throwing hard the entire time. I can see Betulio being on the defensive the whole time, snapping off a couple of sweet counters here and there, and then being utterly flabbergasted when the official(s) score it narrowly to Wilde.

Wilde close UD 15.

 

It would not change my pick in this fight. But it could vs Kane vs Canto.

Given Cantos' stye and movement, I'd favor him in a 25 x 25 ring over Kane. The bigger the ring for a boxer with defense, the better his chances vs the puncher.